ENGL 079P. Sanctuary.

While the term “sanctuary” literally references a sanctum within a church, the term has come to more broadly describe different types of safety from harm and discrimination. This could include a country offering rights to displaced individuals, a wildlife preserve safeguarding endangered species, a city or campus protecting undocumented individuals, or a community space fostering safety and inclusion. This course delves into diverse political, institutional, and cultural interpretations of sanctuary, with a particular focus on local communities and Swarthmore College. Central to this exploration is an engagement with non-traditional literature created by communities outside of mainstream publishing. Students will read and analyze works that emerge from grassroots movements and community voices, providing an alternative perspective to the conventional literary canon. This course includes the co-creation of a publication with community partners. In Fall 2026, students will likely collaborate with currently incarcerated individuals, though details are being finalized. This project will further illuminate the theme of sanctuary through the lens of human connection and creativity, emphasizing the vital role of literature in envisioning and actualizing spaces of refuge.

20th/21st c.
GATEWAY English Literature.
Humanities.
1 credit.
Eligible for ESCH. PEAC. GLBL-paired.
Fall 2026. Price.
Catalog chapter: English Literature
Department website: https://www.swarthmore.edu/english-literature

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